Intra-arterial hepatic chemotherapy combined with chemofiltration in liver malignancies: Results of the Italian experience

We report the results of 50 patients with hepatic metastases of different, generally pretreated, primary tumours (37 from large bowel cancer, 10 from breast, 2 hepatocarcinoma and 1 ocular melanoma). They were treated by 3 different regimens but all inclusive of intra-arterial hepatic chemotherapy (IAHC) with concomitant caval chemofiltration (CHEM). We obtained 7 instances of CR, 20 of PR and 23 of no response, with a response rate of 54 %. From an histological origin the responses were observed in 17 (46 %) large bowel cancers, 8 (80 %) breast cancers, 1 (50 %) hepatocarcinoma and 1 ocular melanoma. The median duration of response and of survival were significantly better in patients who received more aggressive treatments. Chemofiltration is newborn interesting method to cut off the high peak systemic plasma levels of chemotherapeutic agents after intra-arterial high dose hepatic chemotherapy.